Sunday, February 28, 2010
13 Things A Burglar Won't Tell You
Another post, compliments of Joe at Round Circle.
1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.
2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.
3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste ... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.
4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.
5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.
6. If a decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy...
7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom-and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.
8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.
9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)
10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.
11. Helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.
12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.
13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system . If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com .)
8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU:
1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake.. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.
2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.
3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.
4. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?
5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.
6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address.
7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.
8. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.
Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina, Oregon, California,and Kentucky ; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs crimedoctor.com ; and Richard Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job .
1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.
2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.
3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste ... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.
4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.
5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.
6. If a decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy...
7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom-and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.
8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.
9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)
10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.
11. Helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.
12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.
13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system . If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com .)
8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU:
1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake.. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.
2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.
3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.
4. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?
5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.
6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address.
7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.
8. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.
Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina, Oregon, California,and Kentucky ; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs crimedoctor.com ; and Richard Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job .
Ham, Gruyere, and Shallot Pizza
Serves 6
Hands-On Time: 15m
Total Time: 1hr 15m
Ingredients
* cornmeal for the pan
* 1 pound pizza dough, thawed if frozen
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 2 shallots, cut into thin rings and separated
* 12 sprigs fresh thyme
* kosher salt and black pepper
* 1/2 pound thinly sliced deli ham
* 1/2 cup grated Gruyere or Swiss cheese (2 ounces)
Directions
1. Heat oven to 425º F. Sprinkle a rimmed baking sheet with the cornmeal. Shape the dough into a 14-inch circle and place on the prepared baking sheet.
2. Brush the dough with 1 tablespoon of the oil and bake until puffed and golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss the shallots, thyme, the remaining tablespoon of oil, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper.
4. Top the partially cooked dough with the ham, shallot mixture, and cheese. Bake until the crust is crisp and the cheese has melted, 12 to 15 minutes.
Former New Orleans Detective Pleads Guilty in Katrina Shooting Cover-up
Former New Orleans Police Department Lt. Michael Lohman today pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiring to obstruct justice, in connection with one of a string of violent encounters between police and civilians in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Police shot at least 10 people during the week after the storm made landfall.
Read more
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4 Simple Steps to Declutter Your Home
These simple steps will not only clear space around the house but cut waste and reduce your environmental impact.
Read more
Read more
Website of the Day - AXE COP
The AXE COP saga began on a Christmas visit to see my family. My Father, a man with very healthy loins, has managed to produce a variety of children, ranging from me, a 29 year old comic book artist, to my 5 year old brother Malachai, a 5 year old boy genius, with four other siblings in between. During the visit Malchai was running around with his toy fireman axe and he said he was playing "Axe Cop." He asked me to play with him, and I asked what my weapon was... so he brought me a toy flute (actually a recorder). I told him I would rather be Axe Cop then Flute Cop, and he seemed just fine with being Flute Cop. The story that followed became more and more brilliant, until I couldn't contain myself and I had to draw the whole thing into a one page comic. From there the saga continued, and over the course of my week-long visit we cranked out the first four episodes of AXE COP. I posted the comics to my blog and on Facebook and they got great responses. I decided to give AXE COP a home on the internet here and attempt to continue the saga as often as I have time to draw them, and I can get Malachai to write them.
Cheese Soup
This isn't heart healthy - but it's excellent!
1 lb bacon or ham, chopped fine
4 cans cream of Cheddar cheese soup
2 pt half and half
1/2 stick butter
6 oz American cheese (6-10 slices)
1 green pepper, chopped fine
2 celery stalks, chopped fine
2 carrots, chopped fine
onion flakes or onion to taste.
Fry ham or bacon and set aside. Saute in drippings the green pepper, celery, carrots and onion. Mix soup and half and half. Add to above ingredients. Warm mixture up good. Add butter and American cheese. If it looks a little too thick add a little regular milk. Heath thoroughly.
1 lb bacon or ham, chopped fine
4 cans cream of Cheddar cheese soup
2 pt half and half
1/2 stick butter
6 oz American cheese (6-10 slices)
1 green pepper, chopped fine
2 celery stalks, chopped fine
2 carrots, chopped fine
onion flakes or onion to taste.
Fry ham or bacon and set aside. Saute in drippings the green pepper, celery, carrots and onion. Mix soup and half and half. Add to above ingredients. Warm mixture up good. Add butter and American cheese. If it looks a little too thick add a little regular milk. Heath thoroughly.
The Dying Old Preacher
An old preacher was dying. He sent a message for his doctor and his lawyer, both church members, to come to his home. When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom.
As they entered the room the preacher held out his hands and motioned for them to sit, one on each side of his bed. The preacher grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled and stared at the ceiling.
For a time, no one said anything. Both the doctor and lawyer were touched and flattered that the preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moments.
They were also puzzled; the preacher had never given them any indication that he particularly liked either of them. They both remembered his many long, uncomfortable sermons about greed, covetousness and avaricious behavior that made them squirm in their seats.
Finally, the doctor said, "Preacher, why did you ask us to come?"
The old preacher mustered up his strength, then said weakly, "Jesus died between two thieves and that's how I want to go."
As they entered the room the preacher held out his hands and motioned for them to sit, one on each side of his bed. The preacher grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled and stared at the ceiling.
For a time, no one said anything. Both the doctor and lawyer were touched and flattered that the preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moments.
They were also puzzled; the preacher had never given them any indication that he particularly liked either of them. They both remembered his many long, uncomfortable sermons about greed, covetousness and avaricious behavior that made them squirm in their seats.
Finally, the doctor said, "Preacher, why did you ask us to come?"
The old preacher mustered up his strength, then said weakly, "Jesus died between two thieves and that's how I want to go."
Olberman: My father asked me to kill him
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Today's Quote
“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.”
Mother Teresa (1910–1997)
Macedonian missionary
Nobel Peace Prize winner
Mother Teresa (1910–1997)
Macedonian missionary
Nobel Peace Prize winner
Pan-Roasted Chicken With Lemon-Garlic Green Beans
Serves 4
Hands-On Time: 15m
Total Time: 1hr 15m
Ingredients
* 6 tablespoons olive oil
* 2 lemons, 1 thinly sliced, 1 juiced
* 4 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 3/4 pound trimmed green beans
* 8 small red potatoes, quartered
* 4 chicken breasts (bones left in, with skin, about 3 1/4 pounds)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Coat a large baking dish or cast-iron skillet with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Arrange the lemon slices in a single layer in the bottom of the dish or skillet.
2. In a large bowl, combine the remaining oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper; add the green beans and toss to coat. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, remove the green beans and arrange them on top of the lemon slices. Add the potatoes to the same olive-oil mixture and toss to coat. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, arrange the potatoes along the inside edge of the dish or skillet on top of the green beans. Place the chicken in the same bowl with the olive-oil mixture and coat thoroughly. Place the chicken, skin-side up, in the dish or skillet. Pour any of the remaining olive-oil mixture over the chicken.
3. Roast for 50 minutes. Remove the chicken from the dish or skillet. Place the beans and potatoes back in oven for 10 minutes more or until the potatoes are tender. Place a chicken breast on each of 4 serving plates; divide the green beans and potatoes equally. Serve warm.
Here's The Joke
Two doctors and an HMO manager die and line up together at the Pearly Gates. One doctor steps forward and tells St. Peter, "As a pediatric surgeon, I saved hundreds of children." St. Peter lets him enter.
The next doctor says, "As a psychiatrist, I helped thousands of people live better lives." St. Peter tells him to go ahead.
The last man says, "I was an HMO manager. I got countless families cost-effective health care."
St. Peter replies, "You may enter. But," he adds, "you can only stay for three days. After that, you can go to hell.
The next doctor says, "As a psychiatrist, I helped thousands of people live better lives." St. Peter tells him to go ahead.
The last man says, "I was an HMO manager. I got countless families cost-effective health care."
St. Peter replies, "You may enter. But," he adds, "you can only stay for three days. After that, you can go to hell.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Today's Quote
Here's to the crazy ones.
The misfits. The rebels.
The troublemakers. The round
pegs in the square holes - the
ones who see things differently.
They're not fond of rules and
they have no respect for
the status quo. You can praise
them, disagree with them,
quote them, disbelieve them,
glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing that you
can't do is ignore them.
Because they change things.
- Jack Kerouac
quoted in an Apple Computer Ad, 1997
The misfits. The rebels.
The troublemakers. The round
pegs in the square holes - the
ones who see things differently.
They're not fond of rules and
they have no respect for
the status quo. You can praise
them, disagree with them,
quote them, disbelieve them,
glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing that you
can't do is ignore them.
Because they change things.
- Jack Kerouac
quoted in an Apple Computer Ad, 1997
Here's The Joke
A young, pregnant newlywed was visiting her doctor for a maternity checkup. The doctor checked her out and knowing this was her first child asked her if she had any questions.
The young woman blushed and said, "...er...Doctor, my husband wanted to know...ah...how long I can continue to ah...er..."
"Now, now," said the doctor in reassuring tones. "I know what you are asking. You can continue to have sex with your husband until the third trimester."
"Oh no, Doctor. That's not what my husband wanted to know. He wanted to know how much longer I could mow the lawn."
The young woman blushed and said, "...er...Doctor, my husband wanted to know...ah...how long I can continue to ah...er..."
"Now, now," said the doctor in reassuring tones. "I know what you are asking. You can continue to have sex with your husband until the third trimester."
"Oh no, Doctor. That's not what my husband wanted to know. He wanted to know how much longer I could mow the lawn."
Website of the Day
Get a little spring into your day compliments of my friend Joe who can be found at the blog Round Circle.
I think we all need a little spring today!
So I'm sending you some!!!!
Click on HERE You will get a black page.
Click your mouse anywhere (& everywhere) on the page & see what happens!
Better yet, hold down & drag your mouse over the black page...
I think we all need a little spring today!
So I'm sending you some!!!!
Click on HERE You will get a black page.
Click your mouse anywhere (& everywhere) on the page & see what happens!
Better yet, hold down & drag your mouse over the black page...
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Today's Quote
"Individuals who are positive in their thoughts always tend to look upon the brighter side of life. With their faces turned toward the sunshine, they attempt to see the good, even in the bad. Such individuals habitually think thoughts of a positive nature and they are a blessing to the world. They are in a Positive Vibration, and therefore attract other positive personalities to them."
Bob Proctor
Author and Speaker
Bob Proctor
Author and Speaker
28 Tips to Save Money on Groceries
According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008 the average American family spent $6,443 on food. To put that number in perspective, that “average” family consists of 2.5 people (not a nice mental image) with an income of $63,563. So from these numbers we can surmise that our average family spends about 10% of their income on food.
Depending on who you choose to believe (there’s some dispute about this) the average American family also carries a $5,000 balance on credit cards. If they’re paying 15% interest, that’s more than $750/yr.
Conclusion? We could materially impact two expenses simultaneously if we could convince the average American family to eat their credit cards.
But if that doesn’t sound like an appetizing solution, here’s another thought: If we can use some simple tips to shave 10% off the typical annual food bill, we can use the extra $50 a month we free up to help pay those credit card balances faster. With that in mind, here’s my attempt to fill your basket with more than 20 useful tips to slice and dice your grocery bill.
Depending on who you choose to believe (there’s some dispute about this) the average American family also carries a $5,000 balance on credit cards. If they’re paying 15% interest, that’s more than $750/yr.
Conclusion? We could materially impact two expenses simultaneously if we could convince the average American family to eat their credit cards.
But if that doesn’t sound like an appetizing solution, here’s another thought: If we can use some simple tips to shave 10% off the typical annual food bill, we can use the extra $50 a month we free up to help pay those credit card balances faster. With that in mind, here’s my attempt to fill your basket with more than 20 useful tips to slice and dice your grocery bill.
Safety
Safety is a major concern at the manufacturing company where
I work. So I'm constantly preaching caution to the workers I
supervise. "Does anyone know," I asked a few guys, "what the
speed limit is in our parking lot?"
The long silence that followed was interrupted when one of
them piped up. "That depends. Do you mean coming in to work
or leaving?"
I work. So I'm constantly preaching caution to the workers I
supervise. "Does anyone know," I asked a few guys, "what the
speed limit is in our parking lot?"
The long silence that followed was interrupted when one of
them piped up. "That depends. Do you mean coming in to work
or leaving?"
Can You Trust Users' Product Reviews?
When researching a product, many people read the user reviews at Amazon.com to get first-hand insights into how good or bad the item really is. Other sites also have review after review of products written by purchasers. Can you trust these types of reviews? Here are tips on when to use these reviews and when to ignore them.
If Michael Moore Were to Run for President
If Moore announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination now, and followed up that announcement with a vigorous campaign focused on the struggles of rank-and-file Democrats, it would remobilize rank-and-file Democratic activists. It's possible that he might even win; but win or lose, the campaign could arrest and reverse the current rightward, pro-corporate trajectory of our national politics, which is the predictable consequence of the failure of Team Obama to deliver on its promises from 2008, which in turn was the predictable consequence of the doomed effort to try to serve two masters: Wall Street and Main Street.
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Baked Ravioli With Chicken Sausage
Serves 4
Total Time: 50m
Directions
1. Cook 16 to 18 ounces of fresh or frozen cheese ravioli according to the package directions.
2. In a large skillet, brown 2 sliced fully cooked chicken sausages (12 ounces) in olive oil over medium-high heat. Toss with the ravioli and 2 cups marinara sauce.
3. Transfer to a shallow 2-quart baking dish and sprinkle with 1 cup grated mozzarella. Bake at 375° F until golden and bubbling, 35 to 40 minutes.
Website of the Day
What happened in my birth year? Just enter the year of your birth and magic happens.
One Company Thinks They've Created Fast Food With a Conscience -- Are They Right?
Chipotle has a great record when it comes to buying more sustainable ingredients, but it has done one thing that has human rights activists howling.
READ MORE
READ MORE
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Today's Quote
"You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith."
Mary Manin Morrissey
Mary Manin Morrissey
How to Avoid Mealtime Multitasking Mania
Multitasking at mealtimes is so taken for granted in American culture that nothing in the sentence above would surprise anyone. In fact, watching someone eat a meal who does not multitask seems odd.
Next time you hear a statement similar to the one above, ask them to give you their cell phone and laptop for the duration of the meal and watch for the shocked look on their face.
What harm can it really be?
Here are four common consequences and the cumulative consequences of mealtime multitasking can be quite serious:
1. Turns eating into mindless grazing marathons where we have no real idea what we’ve really consumed or the quality of the taste. Some of us couldn’t make a list of exactly what we’ve eaten today let alone yesterday.
2. Increases the likelihood of choosing poor quality food and combinations that are filling but empty of the nutrition we need. Try walking around with a healthy salad while you check email on your mobile phone but a fat-saturated burger or hot dog works well.
Read more
Next time you hear a statement similar to the one above, ask them to give you their cell phone and laptop for the duration of the meal and watch for the shocked look on their face.
What harm can it really be?
Here are four common consequences and the cumulative consequences of mealtime multitasking can be quite serious:
1. Turns eating into mindless grazing marathons where we have no real idea what we’ve really consumed or the quality of the taste. Some of us couldn’t make a list of exactly what we’ve eaten today let alone yesterday.
2. Increases the likelihood of choosing poor quality food and combinations that are filling but empty of the nutrition we need. Try walking around with a healthy salad while you check email on your mobile phone but a fat-saturated burger or hot dog works well.
Read more
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Today's Quote
“Whatever you dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”
- Goethe
- Goethe
Here's Another Joke
The nurse said to the doctor, "There's an invisible man in the waiting room." The doctor replied, "Tell him I can't see him now."
Here's The Joke
A woman gets on a bus with her baby. The bus driver says: "That's the ugliest baby that I've ever seen."
The woman goes to the rear of the bus and sits down, fuming. She says to a man next to her, "That driver just insulted me!"
The man says, "You go right up there and tell him off! Go ahead, I'll hold your monkey for you."
The woman goes to the rear of the bus and sits down, fuming. She says to a man next to her, "That driver just insulted me!"
The man says, "You go right up there and tell him off! Go ahead, I'll hold your monkey for you."
My new favorite thing
The traveler is an on-the-go feeding system for dogs. The two compartments are designed to hold water and/or food and keep them separate. The top bowl holds 4.2cups or 1.0L and the bottom bowl holds 6.3 cups or 1.5L. Included with the traveler is a bonus rubber chew toy that is integrated into the handle. This is the perfect product for those day and weekend trips with the family pet.
Order yours HERE
Website of the Day
Test your Geography Knowledge. See if you really are smarter than a fifth grader.
Joe the Plumber Turns on McCain
Samuel P. Wurzelbacher, aka Joe the Plumber, is backing a number of candidates, but one politician he won’t be stumping for is the man who made him famous: Sen. John McCain. “I don’t owe him shit,” Wurzelbacher said in an interview with PA Public Radio reporter Scott Detrow. “He really screwed my life up, is how I look at it.” As for President Obama, Wurzelbacher told a crowd in Harrisburg to lay off the personal attacks, saying that ties to the “birthers” would hurt the Tea Party cause. And in some ways, he actually kind of likes Obama: “I think his ideology is un-American, but he’s one of the more honest politicians. At least he told us what he wanted to do.” Wurzelbacher says that 200 politicians have asked for his official stamp of approval, but he’s taking his time. Wurzelbacher says he must have a 20-30 minute conversation in which he grills lawmakers to “make sure they’re straight.”
Read more
Read more
Online Bill Pay
The internet has given us many modern conveniences, including online bill pay. Paying bills online can save you the effort of writing checks and stuffing envelopes, and ensure that your bills are always paid on time. Unsure if your bank offers online bill pay? Speak to your bank about available options and if any fees are involved.
Here are some advantages to online bill pay.
• Many banks have a database of companies to choose from when setting up your online bill pay, making the setup process easier. Additionally, you only need to enter a company's information once and it will be saved to your account, as opposed to manually writing checks for each bill.
• Avoid late fees and processing fees by setting up automatic payments. If you know your bill will be the same amount each month, taking advantage of automatic electronic payments will give you one less thing to worry about.
• Paying your bills online reduces the chance for human error and conveniently groups all your bills into a single location, giving you control over every aspect of your bill paying process. Just a few clicks and you're good to go!
Visit www.FeedthePig.org for more money-saving tips.
Here are some advantages to online bill pay.
• Many banks have a database of companies to choose from when setting up your online bill pay, making the setup process easier. Additionally, you only need to enter a company's information once and it will be saved to your account, as opposed to manually writing checks for each bill.
• Avoid late fees and processing fees by setting up automatic payments. If you know your bill will be the same amount each month, taking advantage of automatic electronic payments will give you one less thing to worry about.
• Paying your bills online reduces the chance for human error and conveniently groups all your bills into a single location, giving you control over every aspect of your bill paying process. Just a few clicks and you're good to go!
Visit www.FeedthePig.org for more money-saving tips.
Food-makers cooking up plans to reduce salt use
Sara Lee Corp. recently trumpeted in a public statement its commitment to cutting salt levels in myriad food products by an average of 20 percent over the next five years.
Ball Park franks, Jimmy Dean frozen breakfast meals, even Sara Lee-brand bread — the Downers Grove-based company will give them all a serious sodium-ectomy.
Packaged-food giants ConAgra Foods and Unilever have made similar public proclamations over the past year about big salt reductions. They've all come at a time when food-makers are increasingly being pressured by health advocacy groups to cut back on sodium.
But walk the grocery aisles and those corporate messages about salt reductions are still drowned out on product labels by the same old shouts of "less fat" or "fewer calories." And don't expect to see a blizzard of less-salt marketing messages anytime soon.
Read more
Ball Park franks, Jimmy Dean frozen breakfast meals, even Sara Lee-brand bread — the Downers Grove-based company will give them all a serious sodium-ectomy.
Packaged-food giants ConAgra Foods and Unilever have made similar public proclamations over the past year about big salt reductions. They've all come at a time when food-makers are increasingly being pressured by health advocacy groups to cut back on sodium.
But walk the grocery aisles and those corporate messages about salt reductions are still drowned out on product labels by the same old shouts of "less fat" or "fewer calories." And don't expect to see a blizzard of less-salt marketing messages anytime soon.
Read more
Save Big: How to Cut Your 5 Biggest Expenses
Save Over $150,000 With Elisabeth Leamy's Consumer Tips
Disappearing Village to Exxon & Other Companies: This is Your Fault
The ocean is swallowing their home – and it’s all due to the greenhouse gases emitted by oil, power and coal companies. So, the Alaska Native village of Kivalina wants Exxon, BP and others to pay the price for their sacrifice.
As the city of Kivalina makes plans to move two miles away because of the encroaching seas, they believe that those who caused climate change in the first place should pick up the $400 million tab. The village was protected by sea ice, but higher temperatures have caused the ice to form later and melt sooner, allowing storm surges to erode the coastline.
The villagers filed a lawsuit against two dozen defendants in 2008, which was dismissed by a federal court in San Francisco last year – but they’re not giving up that easily. Their attorney, Mike Pawa of Boston, is appealing the decision.
Kivalina’s case was based on the notion that the defendants not only directly contributed to climate change in a major way, but also intentionally misled the public about the consequences.
Read more
Basic Quiche
Serves 6
Hands-On Time: 20m
Total Time: 1hr 00m
Ingredients
* 1 9-inch refrigerated piecrust
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 2 medium onions, chopped
* Kosher salt and black pepper
* 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
* 4 large eggs
* 3/4 cup half-and-half
* 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 8 ounces Gruyere, grated
* 4 cups mixed greens
Directions
1. Heat oven to 375° F. Fit the crust into a 9-inch pie plate. Place on a baking sheet.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onions and ½ teaspoon each of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the parsley.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Stir in the onion mixture and the Gruyère.
4. Pour the egg mixture into the crust. Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes. Drizzle the greens with the remaining tablespoon of oil and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Serve with the quiche.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Today's Quote
"If you go to work on your goals, your goals will go to work on you. If you go to work on your plan, your plan will go to work on you. Whatever good things we build end up building us."
— Jim Rohn: Author and motivational speaker
— Jim Rohn: Author and motivational speaker
Austrian Multi-Millionare Sells Off Fortune and Gives Proceeds to Charity
Austrian millionaire Karl Rabeder is giving away every penny of his fortune after realising his riches were making him unhappy.
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Mall Riots: Why Are Some Americans Becoming Violent Shoppers?
Americans used to protest in the streets; now some have resorted to fighting each other in shopping malls. What happened?
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Ancient Man in Greenland Has Genome Decoded
The genome of a man who lived on the western coast of Greenland some 4,000 years ago has been decoded, thanks to the surprisingly good preservation of DNA in a swatch of his hair so thick it was originally thought to be from a bear.
This is the first time the whole genome of an ancient human has been analyzed, and it joins the list of just eight whole genomes of living people that have been decoded so far. It also sheds new light on the settlement of North America by showing there was a hitherto unsuspected migration of people across the continent, from Siberia to Greenland, some 5,500 years ago.
The Greenlander belonged to a Paleo-Eskimo culture called the Saqqaq by archaeologists. Using his genome as a basis, a team of researchers from the University of Copenhagen determined that the Saqqaq man’s closest living relatives were the Chukchis, people who live at the easternmost tip of Siberia. His ancestors split apart from Chukchis some 5,500 years ago, according to genetic calculations, implying that the Saqqaq people’s ancestors must have traveled across the northern edges of North America until they reached Greenland.
Read more
This is the first time the whole genome of an ancient human has been analyzed, and it joins the list of just eight whole genomes of living people that have been decoded so far. It also sheds new light on the settlement of North America by showing there was a hitherto unsuspected migration of people across the continent, from Siberia to Greenland, some 5,500 years ago.
The Greenlander belonged to a Paleo-Eskimo culture called the Saqqaq by archaeologists. Using his genome as a basis, a team of researchers from the University of Copenhagen determined that the Saqqaq man’s closest living relatives were the Chukchis, people who live at the easternmost tip of Siberia. His ancestors split apart from Chukchis some 5,500 years ago, according to genetic calculations, implying that the Saqqaq people’s ancestors must have traveled across the northern edges of North America until they reached Greenland.
Read more
Teabaggers upset Marvel Comics turned them into ’supervillains’
It seems there's a new third rail in American politics -- don't mess with the Tea Partiers -- and Marvel Comics has inadvertently grabbed it with both hands. And even though members of the Tea Party movement have extracted a half-hearted apology and a promised retraction from Marvel, their anger has barely abated.
In a recent issue of Captain America, the long-time superhero and his African-American partner The Falcon travel to Idaho to investigate a white supremacist militia group, the Watchdogs, who are long-time villains in the Marvel Universe. On the way, they pass an anti-tax rally where the protesters are holding up signs bearing familiar Tea Party slogans, such as "Stop the Socialists!" and "Tea Bag the Libs Before They Tea Bag You."
This implied mockery of the Tea Partiers quickly aroused a firestorm of indignation on conservative blogs and message boards, made even worse by the implied association between the protesters and the local racist militia.
One particularly angry blogger, Warner Todd Huston, wrote, "So, there you have it, America. Tea Party protesters just 'hate the government,' they are racists, they are all white folks, they are angry, and they associate with secretive white supremacist groups that want to over throw the U.S. government."
Read more
In a recent issue of Captain America, the long-time superhero and his African-American partner The Falcon travel to Idaho to investigate a white supremacist militia group, the Watchdogs, who are long-time villains in the Marvel Universe. On the way, they pass an anti-tax rally where the protesters are holding up signs bearing familiar Tea Party slogans, such as "Stop the Socialists!" and "Tea Bag the Libs Before They Tea Bag You."
This implied mockery of the Tea Partiers quickly aroused a firestorm of indignation on conservative blogs and message boards, made even worse by the implied association between the protesters and the local racist militia.
One particularly angry blogger, Warner Todd Huston, wrote, "So, there you have it, America. Tea Party protesters just 'hate the government,' they are racists, they are all white folks, they are angry, and they associate with secretive white supremacist groups that want to over throw the U.S. government."
Read more
10 Things Weight Loss Programs Won't Tell You
Continuing its series of dirty little secrets about various industries and professions, Smart Money takes on the weight loss business. Here are some of the things that the diet industry doesn't usually admit.
Names
Some Native Americans have two names, one of which is never
made public because of the power it would give another
person over them.
**********
It is common in parts of West Africa for people to name
their children for the day on which they were born. Sunday
is Awushie, Monday is Adojoa, Tuesday is Abla, Wednesday
is Aku, Thursday is Awo, Friday is Afua, and Saturday is
Ama.
**********
In seventeenth-century Europe people made anagrams from
names and believed these words formed from rearranging the
letters would give a clue to a person's characteristics.
Teresa is a teaser, Pat is apt, Greta is great, Mona likes
to moan, and Dora travels on the road.
**********
There were tribes in the mountains of northwest Africa
known as anonymi, or people without names. These small,
isolated groups of people were described by Pliny, an
ancient Roman historian.
**********
The Ojibway Indians of North America once considered it
dangerous to speak the names of their own husbands and
wives.
**********
The people of Indonesia may change their names after they
have suffered some misfortune or have had a serious illness.
They believe a new name will confuse the evil spirits that
brought them grief.
**********
made public because of the power it would give another
person over them.
**********
It is common in parts of West Africa for people to name
their children for the day on which they were born. Sunday
is Awushie, Monday is Adojoa, Tuesday is Abla, Wednesday
is Aku, Thursday is Awo, Friday is Afua, and Saturday is
Ama.
**********
In seventeenth-century Europe people made anagrams from
names and believed these words formed from rearranging the
letters would give a clue to a person's characteristics.
Teresa is a teaser, Pat is apt, Greta is great, Mona likes
to moan, and Dora travels on the road.
**********
There were tribes in the mountains of northwest Africa
known as anonymi, or people without names. These small,
isolated groups of people were described by Pliny, an
ancient Roman historian.
**********
The Ojibway Indians of North America once considered it
dangerous to speak the names of their own husbands and
wives.
**********
The people of Indonesia may change their names after they
have suffered some misfortune or have had a serious illness.
They believe a new name will confuse the evil spirits that
brought them grief.
**********
Would You Work the Graveyard Shift at a Chicken Slaughterhouse in Alabama?
A new book tells the story of how one New York-based journalist embedded himself in the backbreaking work routinely performed by immigrant laborers.
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Mini Chocolate Cheesecakes
Prep Time:20 min
Start to Finish:2 hr 25 min
Makes:12 servings
Cheesecakes
12 foil baking cups
12 thin chocolate wafer cookies (from 9-oz package), crushed (2/3 cup)
12 oz 1/3-less-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), softened
2/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1 whole egg
1 egg white
1 oz bittersweet or semisweet baking chocolate, melted
Topping
1/3 cup fat-free hot fudge topping
Fresh raspberries, if desired
1. Heat oven to 325°F. Place foil baking cup in each of 12 regular-size muffin cups. With back of spoon, firmly press slightly less than 1 tablespoon cookie crumbs in bottom of each foil cup.
2. In large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Beat in sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Beat in cocoa. Beat in whole egg and egg white until well blended. Stir in melted chocolate. Divide cheese mixture evenly among crumb-lined foil cups.
3. Bake 28 to 32 minutes or until set. Cool in pan on cooling rack 15 minutes. Remove cheesecakes from pan; cool 15 minutes longer. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until chilled.
4. To serve, carefully remove foil baking cups. Spread fudge topping on cheesecakes. Garnish with raspberries. Store cheesecakes covered in refrigerator.
'The View' dives into political talk
It was the morning after President Barack Obama's first State of the Union, which typically wouldn't mean much for daytime television shows and their menu of celebrity interviews, cooking tips and fashion segments.
But the hosts of the ABC gabfest "The View" had a different agenda: dissecting the president's highly anticipated address.
"His health bill, he ain't walking away from this," said Barbara Walters.
"No, he's not walking away from it," replied Whoopi Goldberg. "You know why? Because he knows I want what they have. Mr. President, I want the health care that you have!"
It's a point she had been hammering for weeks.
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Did President George W. Bush drop everything to visit Ft. Hood victims? Was he ordered away by the Obama administration?
Bush did visit the wounded at Ft. Hood, but a Bush spokesman says that his visit was coordinated with base officials and that he was not asked to leave by the White House.
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Creative Ideas to Save on Your Wedding
Your wedding may be a year or more away but you're probably already aware that the big day can be expensive. Use the months leading up to the big day to budget and plan. Here are some tips to help ensure that money is the last thing on your mind
when you say "I do."
• Date: If you avoid planning your wedding on a Saturday, or during the months of June and August, vendors may be more accessible, and less expensive. Also keep in mind that brunch and lunch are less expensive than dinner.
• Spirits: Alcoholic beverages dramatically increase the cost of any event. One money saving idea would be to hold the wedding earlier in the day. Another option would be to only offer wine and champagne.
• Location: Consider free locations to host your wedding, such as your home, a friend's home or a park. Additionally, your church or synagogue will likely be less expensive than commercial venues. Having the freedom to choose your own caterer or bring your own beverages can also be a great cost saver.
• Decorations: When it comes to the flowers and decorations, keep it simple! Try your local farmer's market, where you can choose from a wide variety of flowers that are grown locally and in season. Also consider working with local florists' programs at technical colleges or high schools to make your wedding a final project for a student.
• Invitations: Discount warehouses or online stationery stores may be an inexpensive option, since you generally get the same quality in exchange for a smaller selection. Or try getting a simple printed card and adding your own creative details.
Remember that the wedding only marks the beginning of a partnership that extends to your finances! Read more financial tips on Couples & Marriage.
Visit www.FeedthePig.org for more money-saving tips.
when you say "I do."
• Date: If you avoid planning your wedding on a Saturday, or during the months of June and August, vendors may be more accessible, and less expensive. Also keep in mind that brunch and lunch are less expensive than dinner.
• Spirits: Alcoholic beverages dramatically increase the cost of any event. One money saving idea would be to hold the wedding earlier in the day. Another option would be to only offer wine and champagne.
• Location: Consider free locations to host your wedding, such as your home, a friend's home or a park. Additionally, your church or synagogue will likely be less expensive than commercial venues. Having the freedom to choose your own caterer or bring your own beverages can also be a great cost saver.
• Decorations: When it comes to the flowers and decorations, keep it simple! Try your local farmer's market, where you can choose from a wide variety of flowers that are grown locally and in season. Also consider working with local florists' programs at technical colleges or high schools to make your wedding a final project for a student.
• Invitations: Discount warehouses or online stationery stores may be an inexpensive option, since you generally get the same quality in exchange for a smaller selection. Or try getting a simple printed card and adding your own creative details.
Remember that the wedding only marks the beginning of a partnership that extends to your finances! Read more financial tips on Couples & Marriage.
Visit www.FeedthePig.org for more money-saving tips.
Top Five Health Insurers Posted 56 Percent Profit Gains in 2009
The insurers' hefty profit gains came even as 2.7 million more Americans lost their insurance coverage due to the declining economy.
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Save our Planet!
Climate change is hard to imagine since it is dealing with small changes over a long period of time. A new NASA Web site can help younger children understand how and why their planet is changing and what they can do to help keep it habitable. This website is called "Climate Kids". It is geared toward students in grades 4 through 6 and has a multimedia rich website with games and humorous illustrations and animations to help break down the important issue of climate change.
There are many interactive tools on the website with beautiful illustrations and access to further informational sources. Information on changing climates, carbon dioxide levels, rising sea levels and how they impact wildlife and humanity are readily available in easy to understand language and images.
Some examples include:
1. In "Climate Time Machine" use an interactive website to travel back and forth through time and see how climate changes have affected our world or may affect it in the future. One example is to see how rising sea levels will affect the shape of Florida.
2. In "Go Green" choose the greenest transportation options.
3. In "Migration Concentraion" learn about endanger animals and improve memory skills.
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Quit Redefining Conservatism
By Christopher Buckley
As CPAC continues its right-wing celebration this weekend, The Daily Beast's Christopher Buckley, son of famous conservative leader William F. Buckley, (politely) takes on his first cousin and the other signatories of the Mount Vernon Statement for trying to redefine conservatism—when all they're really doing is bashing Obama.
Read more
As CPAC continues its right-wing celebration this weekend, The Daily Beast's Christopher Buckley, son of famous conservative leader William F. Buckley, (politely) takes on his first cousin and the other signatories of the Mount Vernon Statement for trying to redefine conservatism—when all they're really doing is bashing Obama.
Read more
Sautéed Chicken With Corn and Edamame
Serves 4
Hands-On Time: 30m
Total Time: 30m
Ingredients
* 4 ounces sliced bacon
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 4 6-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts
* 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
* 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
* 2 cups frozen shelled edamame, thawed
* 1 1/2 cups corn kernels, fresh (from 2 ears) or frozen
Directions
1. Heat oven to 400° F.
2. In a large skillet, over medium heat, fry the bacon until crisp, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Discard the drippings.
3. Wipe out the skillet and heat the oil over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a baking dish and roast until cooked through, about 8 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, add the onion to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 8 minutes. Add the edamame and corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Break the bacon into pieces and add them to the killet. Stir in the remaining salt and pepper. Spoon onto individual plates and serve with the chicken.
Some Thoughts on Exercise
My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she
was 60. She's 97 now & we don't know where she is!
I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks.
Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to show up.
I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures
out what I'm doing.
I don't exercise at all. If God meant us to touch our toes,
he would have put them further up our body.
I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people
who annoy me.
I have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them.
The advantage of exercising every day is that you die health-
ier.
If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a
small country.
I don't jog. It makes the ice jump right out of my glass.
was 60. She's 97 now & we don't know where she is!
I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks.
Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to show up.
I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures
out what I'm doing.
I don't exercise at all. If God meant us to touch our toes,
he would have put them further up our body.
I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people
who annoy me.
I have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them.
The advantage of exercising every day is that you die health-
ier.
If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a
small country.
I don't jog. It makes the ice jump right out of my glass.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Today's Quote
"The health of your body influences what you experience in your mind. There is no split. If you can engage your whole spirit in the pursuit of total fitness - not just your intellect, not just your emotions - but instead everything inside you that is truly you, you'll discover what it is to be a whole person."
David Patchell-Evans
www.davidpatchellevans.com/book
David Patchell-Evans
www.davidpatchellevans.com/book
Thursday, February 18, 2010
When Will Obama Stop Trying to Work with Republicans?
Obama seems to be determined to give bipartisanship one more shot, hoping he can smooth out GOP obstruction to his agenda.
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Don't Put Yourself Second
Tired of always putting the needs of others before yours? Get off the sidelines and start being the star of your own life! Figure out how to put yourself and your priorities first in order to live your life for you—and no one else.
Read more
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Wednesday, February 17, 2010
10 Ways to Stop Corporate Dominance of Politics
It's not too late to limit or reverse the impact of the Supreme Court's disastrous decision in Citizens United v. FEC. Here's how.
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Which Brands Have the Most Loyal Buyers?
The best test of a product is whether you would buy it again. In other words, loyalty. Here are the brands that consumers are most loyal to in six dozen categories such as airlines, car rentals, hotels, travel sites, printers, cell services, and more.
New Poll Results Are Proof That Republicans Don't Think
A poll commissioned by DailyKos shows just how far to the right the GOP has been dragged by its right wing...and how far out of step they are with the rest of America.
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Bill Nye the Science Guy: Climate change deniers are ‘unpatriotic’
Frozen water fell from the sky today, therefore thousands of scientists the world over are liars. Just go with it.
That's the narrative coming from Fox News in their coverage of the heavy snow blanketing the eastern coast of the United States this winter. Thankfully, there's Bill Nye the Science Guy, ready to explain the complexities of climate science in terms easy enough for even a child to digest.
Nye, however, jacked his assessment of meteorology into the realm of partisanship, scoffing on MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show on Wednesday night that climate change deniers are "unpatriotic" in parroting simple minded, anti-science propaganda.
"[We] remind you that global warming was the first term for this phenomenon that we now call can climate change," he said. "So it‘s very reasonable that a snowstorm in Washington that‘s this severe is a result of climate change."
"There‘s more energy in the atmosphere, and this is stirring things up," Nye continued. "If you want to get serious about it, these guys claiming that the snow in Washington disproves climate change are almost unpatriotic. It's really, they're denying science."
Read more
That's the narrative coming from Fox News in their coverage of the heavy snow blanketing the eastern coast of the United States this winter. Thankfully, there's Bill Nye the Science Guy, ready to explain the complexities of climate science in terms easy enough for even a child to digest.
Nye, however, jacked his assessment of meteorology into the realm of partisanship, scoffing on MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show on Wednesday night that climate change deniers are "unpatriotic" in parroting simple minded, anti-science propaganda.
"[We] remind you that global warming was the first term for this phenomenon that we now call can climate change," he said. "So it‘s very reasonable that a snowstorm in Washington that‘s this severe is a result of climate change."
"There‘s more energy in the atmosphere, and this is stirring things up," Nye continued. "If you want to get serious about it, these guys claiming that the snow in Washington disproves climate change are almost unpatriotic. It's really, they're denying science."
Read more
The year of frustrated hopes
Why has Barack Obama disappointed his supporters on so many issues?
ONE YEAR ago, millions of people were in Washington for the inauguration of Barack Obama as president.
They wanted to witness history being made--the first African American president taking the oath of office in a land built on slavery. But they were also celebrating the end of the long years of Republican dominance in Washington and the expectation that a new era was beginning in U.S. politics.
Obama's oft-repeated statement from the campaign spoke to the hopes of millions of people: "We are the change we have been waiting for."
One year later, we're still waiting--and the idea that Barack Obama is part of anything to do with change seems like a joke. The disillusionment in Obama has left many people wondering if they were wrong to hope at all.
True, expectations in the new administration a year ago were so high that Obama was bound to disappoint. As USA Today summarized the results of a poll at the time:
Eight in 10 said he will improve conditions for minorities and the poor, and 76 percent said he'll increase respect for the United States abroad. About seven in 10 said he'll be able to improve education and the environment. More than 60 percent said he will reduce unemployment, bring U.S. troops home from Iraq, improve the health care system, create a strong economic recovery and keep the U.S. safe from terrorism. More than half said he will be able to bring troops home from Afghanistan, reduce U.S. oil dependence, heal political divisions and control federal spending.
Read more
ONE YEAR ago, millions of people were in Washington for the inauguration of Barack Obama as president.
They wanted to witness history being made--the first African American president taking the oath of office in a land built on slavery. But they were also celebrating the end of the long years of Republican dominance in Washington and the expectation that a new era was beginning in U.S. politics.
Obama's oft-repeated statement from the campaign spoke to the hopes of millions of people: "We are the change we have been waiting for."
One year later, we're still waiting--and the idea that Barack Obama is part of anything to do with change seems like a joke. The disillusionment in Obama has left many people wondering if they were wrong to hope at all.
True, expectations in the new administration a year ago were so high that Obama was bound to disappoint. As USA Today summarized the results of a poll at the time:
Eight in 10 said he will improve conditions for minorities and the poor, and 76 percent said he'll increase respect for the United States abroad. About seven in 10 said he'll be able to improve education and the environment. More than 60 percent said he will reduce unemployment, bring U.S. troops home from Iraq, improve the health care system, create a strong economic recovery and keep the U.S. safe from terrorism. More than half said he will be able to bring troops home from Afghanistan, reduce U.S. oil dependence, heal political divisions and control federal spending.
Read more
Here's The Joke
A man was pulled over for speeding down the highway; the officer came to the driver’s window and said, "Sir, may I see your driver’s license and registration?"
The man said, "Well officer I don't have a license, it was taken away for a DUI."
The officer, in surprise, said," What, do you have a registration for the vehicle?"
So the man replied, "No sir, the car is not mine I stole it, but I am pretty sure I say a registration card in the glove box when I put the gun in it."
The officer stepped back, "There is a gun in the glove box?!?"
The man sighed and said, "Yes sir, I used to kill the woman who owns the car before I stuffed her in the trunk."
The officer steps toward the back of the car and says," Sir do not move, I am calling for backup." The officer calls for backup and about ten minutes another highway patrolman arrives. He walks up to the window slowly and asks the man for his driver’s license and registration.
The man said," Yes officer here it right here."
It all checked out so the officer said," Is there a gun in the glove box sir?"
The man laughs and says," No officer why would there be a gun in the glove box." He opened the glove box and showed him that there was no gun.
The second officer asked him to open the trunk because he had reason to believe that there was a body in it. The man agrees and opens the trunk, no dead body. The second officer says, "Sir I do not understand, the officer that pulled you over said that you did not have a license, the car was stolen, there was a gun in the glove box, and a dead body in the trunk."
The man looks the officer in the eyes and says, "Yeah and I'll bet he said I was speeding too."
The man said, "Well officer I don't have a license, it was taken away for a DUI."
The officer, in surprise, said," What, do you have a registration for the vehicle?"
So the man replied, "No sir, the car is not mine I stole it, but I am pretty sure I say a registration card in the glove box when I put the gun in it."
The officer stepped back, "There is a gun in the glove box?!?"
The man sighed and said, "Yes sir, I used to kill the woman who owns the car before I stuffed her in the trunk."
The officer steps toward the back of the car and says," Sir do not move, I am calling for backup." The officer calls for backup and about ten minutes another highway patrolman arrives. He walks up to the window slowly and asks the man for his driver’s license and registration.
The man said," Yes officer here it right here."
It all checked out so the officer said," Is there a gun in the glove box sir?"
The man laughs and says," No officer why would there be a gun in the glove box." He opened the glove box and showed him that there was no gun.
The second officer asked him to open the trunk because he had reason to believe that there was a body in it. The man agrees and opens the trunk, no dead body. The second officer says, "Sir I do not understand, the officer that pulled you over said that you did not have a license, the car was stolen, there was a gun in the glove box, and a dead body in the trunk."
The man looks the officer in the eyes and says, "Yeah and I'll bet he said I was speeding too."
Website of the Day - Go Coffee Go
Head to this site to locate blends from top-ranked U.S. micro roasters. Search by company, region, or body (from three easy-to-swallow categories―light, medium, and dark). Sign up for the auto-ship option (once a week, every two weeks, every three weeks, or once a month) and your pot will never go empty again.
Fennel-Crusted Pork Loin With Roasted Potatoes and Pears
Serves 4 Hands-On Time: 15m Total Time: 1hr 30m
Ingredients
* 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 4 tablespoons olive oil
* kosher salt and pepper
* 2 pounds boneless pork loin
* 2 red onions, quartered
* 1 pound small white potatoes, quartered
* 3 firm pears (such as Bartlett), cored and quartered
Directions
1. Heat oven to 400° F.
2. Using the bottom of a heavy pan, crush the fennel seeds. In a small bowl, mix the seeds, the garlic, 2 tablespoons of the oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Rub the mixture over the pork, then place the pork in a large roasting pan.
3. In a bowl, mix the onions, potatoes, pears, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and the remaining oil. Scatter around the pork and roast until cooked through, about 70 minutes (internal temperature 160° F). Transfer the pork to a cutting board and let rest at least 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with the roasted fruit and vegetables.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The Life of Herbie
1769, in Yarmouth, Maine - a seed from an elm tree, carried by a gentle breeze, floated through the air and settled to the ground. Dry leaves quickly covered it. A warm rain fell. The wet leaves stuck to the ground. Like a womb, they protected and nourished. Under their cover, the tiny seed came to life. Small, vein-like roots reached into the earth and sought nourishment. A delicate sprout pushed the protective leaves aside. Little leaves unfolded and experienced sunshine for the first time. If a tree could smile, this fragile sprout would have.
Years passed. The elm grew at a startling rate of three to six feet a year. As it grew, so did its sense of awareness. The spreading branches acted like a satellite dish. They picked up the signals from near-by trees. The number of elms grew. Each one communicated with the others. They told of all they saw and experienced. There were times when the growing elm was overwhelmed with information from the hundreds of elms that were planted along the shaded streets of the expanding little town.
In 1780, the elm's branches stretched thirty feet into the air. From this lofty height, it sensed the presence of British ships, as they sailed into the harbour. Men dressed in uniform and carrying weapons came to shore. Under the elm's shade, three Americans discussed battle plans. The American Revolutionary War had come to Yarmouth.
Smoke drifted on the breeze. The elm tasted the bitterness of gunpowder for the first time. That evening, as the sun sank below the horizon, a young American, badly wounded, leaned against the elm's trunk. The elm sensed his prayers, as the young man died. His blood soaked the soil. The elm tasted death.
From 1790 to 1890, the normal chatter the tree picked up from the others diminished. The elm watched more than three hundred ships, built from the bodies of his brethren, sail out of the harbour and beyond the horizon.
The tree was almost one hundred years old, when a group of men rested in its shade. They carried muskets as they travelled south into the battle. The American Civil War was underway, and the elm sensed death again.
The small town grew as did the elm. From 1914 to 1918, the elm saw ships, now made of steel, patrol beyond the harbour. It sensed death beyond the waters, as men sailed away to fight the First World War.
On December 7, 1941, a group of young men gathered under the shade of the now mighty elm. The tree sensed excitement and fear. "Japan bombed Pearl Harbour." One said. "I can't believe it." Another stated. "It looks like we're going to war, men." The trees leaves hung limp in the still air. It felt death was near again.
In the 1950's, the elm towered close to one hundred feet tall. With so much area, its sense-perception was at a peak. It sensed the communication of from trees miles away, and what it sensed caused fear. More death was on the horizon. It wasn't man this time. It was the elms, as Dutch elm disease spread across the United States, wiping out millions of trees, leaving many small towns changed. Where once streets were lined with elms, there were now stumps.
One morning, the tree felt the first signs of disease. It branches, which once sensed all things, now seemed numb. It tried to communicate with the others, but only garbled replies came in return. The elm knew it was sick.
Tree warden, Frank Knight, had the sad task of taking many of these trees down, but when he looked up at this one towering giant, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He knew it had stood sentinel over Yarmouth since before the Revolution. This one he would try to save.
For fifty years, Mr. Knight carefully nursed the old elm. He sprayed for pests and pruned diseased branches. One time, as they trimmed, a young girl asked, "What are you doing to Herbie?"
"Herbie? Who's Herbie?" One of the workers asked.
"The tree. He's Herbie."
The name stuck. Herbie, although sick, always sensed Frank's presence. Instead of the death Herbie often felt throughout his lifetime, in Frank there was peace. It was a friendship between
man and tree.
Frank Knight is now 101 years old and has lost the battle. Herbie, estimated to be close to 240 years old has to be brought down. For fifty years, Herbie's sense-perception dimmed steadily. Now there is blackness. His time has come.
He was scheduled to be brought down on January 18, 2010, but a snow storm gave him a one day pardon. On the 19th of January, 2010, Maine will lose a majestic, 110 foot king.
Herbie's remains are to be turned into usable items and auctioned off. The proceeds will be used to plant disease resistant elms, which will once again grace the streets of Yarmouth, Maine.
Michael T. Smith
Michael lives with his lovely wife, Ginny, in Caldwell, Idaho. He works as a project manager in Telecommunications and in his spare time writes inspiration stories. He has recently been published in two Chicken Soup for the Soul Books (All in the Family and Things I Learned from My Cat), in "Thin Threads - Life Changing Moments" and in Catholic Digest.
Years passed. The elm grew at a startling rate of three to six feet a year. As it grew, so did its sense of awareness. The spreading branches acted like a satellite dish. They picked up the signals from near-by trees. The number of elms grew. Each one communicated with the others. They told of all they saw and experienced. There were times when the growing elm was overwhelmed with information from the hundreds of elms that were planted along the shaded streets of the expanding little town.
In 1780, the elm's branches stretched thirty feet into the air. From this lofty height, it sensed the presence of British ships, as they sailed into the harbour. Men dressed in uniform and carrying weapons came to shore. Under the elm's shade, three Americans discussed battle plans. The American Revolutionary War had come to Yarmouth.
Smoke drifted on the breeze. The elm tasted the bitterness of gunpowder for the first time. That evening, as the sun sank below the horizon, a young American, badly wounded, leaned against the elm's trunk. The elm sensed his prayers, as the young man died. His blood soaked the soil. The elm tasted death.
From 1790 to 1890, the normal chatter the tree picked up from the others diminished. The elm watched more than three hundred ships, built from the bodies of his brethren, sail out of the harbour and beyond the horizon.
The tree was almost one hundred years old, when a group of men rested in its shade. They carried muskets as they travelled south into the battle. The American Civil War was underway, and the elm sensed death again.
The small town grew as did the elm. From 1914 to 1918, the elm saw ships, now made of steel, patrol beyond the harbour. It sensed death beyond the waters, as men sailed away to fight the First World War.
On December 7, 1941, a group of young men gathered under the shade of the now mighty elm. The tree sensed excitement and fear. "Japan bombed Pearl Harbour." One said. "I can't believe it." Another stated. "It looks like we're going to war, men." The trees leaves hung limp in the still air. It felt death was near again.
In the 1950's, the elm towered close to one hundred feet tall. With so much area, its sense-perception was at a peak. It sensed the communication of from trees miles away, and what it sensed caused fear. More death was on the horizon. It wasn't man this time. It was the elms, as Dutch elm disease spread across the United States, wiping out millions of trees, leaving many small towns changed. Where once streets were lined with elms, there were now stumps.
One morning, the tree felt the first signs of disease. It branches, which once sensed all things, now seemed numb. It tried to communicate with the others, but only garbled replies came in return. The elm knew it was sick.
Tree warden, Frank Knight, had the sad task of taking many of these trees down, but when he looked up at this one towering giant, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He knew it had stood sentinel over Yarmouth since before the Revolution. This one he would try to save.
For fifty years, Mr. Knight carefully nursed the old elm. He sprayed for pests and pruned diseased branches. One time, as they trimmed, a young girl asked, "What are you doing to Herbie?"
"Herbie? Who's Herbie?" One of the workers asked.
"The tree. He's Herbie."
The name stuck. Herbie, although sick, always sensed Frank's presence. Instead of the death Herbie often felt throughout his lifetime, in Frank there was peace. It was a friendship between
man and tree.
Frank Knight is now 101 years old and has lost the battle. Herbie, estimated to be close to 240 years old has to be brought down. For fifty years, Herbie's sense-perception dimmed steadily. Now there is blackness. His time has come.
He was scheduled to be brought down on January 18, 2010, but a snow storm gave him a one day pardon. On the 19th of January, 2010, Maine will lose a majestic, 110 foot king.
Herbie's remains are to be turned into usable items and auctioned off. The proceeds will be used to plant disease resistant elms, which will once again grace the streets of Yarmouth, Maine.
Michael T. Smith
Michael lives with his lovely wife, Ginny, in Caldwell, Idaho. He works as a project manager in Telecommunications and in his spare time writes inspiration stories. He has recently been published in two Chicken Soup for the Soul Books (All in the Family and Things I Learned from My Cat), in "Thin Threads - Life Changing Moments" and in Catholic Digest.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Here's The Joke
Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other man pulls out his cell phone and calls emergency services.
He gasps to the operator: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator in a calm, soothing voice replies: "Take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a shot is heard.
Back on the phone, the hunter says, "OK, now what?"
He gasps to the operator: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator in a calm, soothing voice replies: "Take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a shot is heard.
Back on the phone, the hunter says, "OK, now what?"
What I've Shoveled So Far
This is the last winter I will be shoveling! I'm either going to buy a blade for my tractor or get a blower. I'm sooooooo done with this.
View From My Office
Visability < 1/4 mile. Had 7" of new snow on the drive when I got home this evening. Took me about an hour and a half to get home - usually takes me about 45 mins.
February 5, 1865. "Abraham Lincoln, seated, holding spectacles and a pencil." Glass transparency; photograph by Alexander Gardner. View Full Size
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Today's Quote
Ah love! could thou and I with fate conspire
To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire,
Would not we shatter it to bits -- and then
Re-mould it nearer to the Heart's Desire!
-- Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (Edw. Fitzgerald translation)
To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire,
Would not we shatter it to bits -- and then
Re-mould it nearer to the Heart's Desire!
-- Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (Edw. Fitzgerald translation)
Daily Dilemma
How would you like to be remembered after you die? What would you like to be said at your funeral? Whom would you like to speak?
Your 2010 Financial Outlook
One month into a new year, what does your financial outlook for the year look like? Are you feeling more financially sound than you did this time last year? If so, congratulations! Continue to follow your budget, save your money and make smart decisions.
If you aren't feeling better than last year, start taking some basic steps now so that this time next year, you'll feel like you're on solid ground.
• Evaluate your spending. How can you know how you are doing financially if you don't know where your money is going?
• Create a budget. Once you know where you have been spending your money, determine where you should be spending your money.
• Make smart decisions about where you can cut back and save money—bring your lunch to work, drink water from the tap and order out less often.
• Start saving now. Starting really can be the hardest part—open a savings account, put your money aside, remind yourself not to spend it.
Turn 2010 into your best financial year ever.
Visit www.FeedthePig.org for more money-saving tips
If you aren't feeling better than last year, start taking some basic steps now so that this time next year, you'll feel like you're on solid ground.
• Evaluate your spending. How can you know how you are doing financially if you don't know where your money is going?
• Create a budget. Once you know where you have been spending your money, determine where you should be spending your money.
• Make smart decisions about where you can cut back and save money—bring your lunch to work, drink water from the tap and order out less often.
• Start saving now. Starting really can be the hardest part—open a savings account, put your money aside, remind yourself not to spend it.
Turn 2010 into your best financial year ever.
Visit www.FeedthePig.org for more money-saving tips
5 Ways to Have Better Sex
Your desires are legitimate. Your request to have your desires fulfilled is legitimate. Here are five ways to make it happen.
Read more
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Married 84 years, and still loving
A Craven County couple are in the Guinness World Records book.
The two did nothing outlandish such as sky-diving upside down, dancing for days, taking the longest lawn mower ride or having the most tattoos.
No, Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher of the Brownsville community have been married for more than 84 years. That is a feat in itself.
They have the world record of the longest marriage for a living couple.
Read more
The two did nothing outlandish such as sky-diving upside down, dancing for days, taking the longest lawn mower ride or having the most tattoos.
No, Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher of the Brownsville community have been married for more than 84 years. That is a feat in itself.
They have the world record of the longest marriage for a living couple.
Read more
Spiced Beef Empanadas With Lime Sour Cream
Makes 24 Hands-On Time: 35m Total Time: 1hr 00m
Ingredients
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1 small onion, chopped
* 1/2 pound ground beef (80 to 85 percent lean)
* 1/3 cup golden raisins
* 2 tablespoons ketchup
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* kosher salt and black pepper
* 2 store-bought refrigerated rolled piecrusts
* 1 large egg, beaten
* 1/2 cup sour cream
* 1/4 teaspoon lime zest
Directions
1. Heat oven to 375º F. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the raisins, ketchup, cinnamon, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
2. Using a 2½-inch round cookie cutter, cut out circles from the piecrusts. Divide the beef mixture among the circles, brush the edges with water, fold in half, and press with a fork to seal. Transfer to a baking sheet and brush with the egg. Bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
3. Put the sour cream in a small bowl and sprinkle with the lime zest. Serve with the empanadas.
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